AMEENAH GURIB-FAKIM

Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim was born on 17 October 1959 in the village of Surinam, Mauritius, to Hassenjee Gurib and Firdaus Durgauhee. Raised in Plaine Magnien, she completed her early education at the Saint-Patrice primary school before moving to Mahébourg Loreto Convent. Ameenah later earned her Higher School Certificate at Loreto Convent Quatre Bornes and pursued an undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Surrey, graduating in 1983. She then went on to earn a PhD in organic chemistry from Exeter University, returning to Mauritius in 1987 to begin her academic career at the University of Mauritius.

Ameenah’s professional journey was marked by a deep commitment to science and education. She held several key academic and leadership positions, including a personal chair in Organic Chemistry and serving as Dean of the Faculty of Science. Between 2004 and 2010, she also worked as Pro-Vice Chancellor. Her leadership extended beyond academia when she became the Managing Director of CIDP Research & Innovation, formerly known as Cephyr, a centre for phytotherapy research. She also contributed to the Mauritius Research Council as Manager for Research during the mid-1990s and chaired the International Council for Scientific Union – Regional Office for Africa from 2011 to 2014.

In 2015, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim made history by becoming the first female President of Mauritius, a position for which she was nominated by Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth. Her appointment was unanimously approved by the Mauritian National Assembly. However, her tenure was marred by a scandal that led to her resignation in March 2018. The controversy centered around the misuse of a credit card and allegations of conflicts of interest related to her involvement with the Planet Earth Institute. Despite having reimbursed the expenditures, the media leak of her bank details during the 50th anniversary of Mauritius' independence celebrations led to her stepping down. She was later embroiled in further investigations, including a Commission of Inquiry into constitutional violations during her presidency.

Ameenah’s personal life includes her marriage to Dr. Anwar Fakim, a surgeon, in 1988. Together, they have two children: a son, Adam, who studied at the University of Kent, and a daughter, Imaan, who pursued a degree in Computer Science.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameenah_Gurib-Fakim